Austin officials approve funding for police body cameras

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, shown in 2007 said of the body cameras: “We believe that, in the vast majority of the time, police are doing the right things for the right reasons, and this will document that.”

Photo: AP file photo

AUSTIN — As many as 500 Austin police officers could be wearing body cameras by the end of the year after city leaders approved a budget that includes $3 million to purchase them.

The aim is to have all uniformed patrol officers equipped with body cameras within three years, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

Police Chief Art Acevedo said he has concerns about privacy for crime victims but adds that he believes in transparency in the way officers conduct their work.

“We believe that, in the vast majority of the time, police are doing the right things for the right reasons, and this will document that,” Acevedo said.

Other large law enforcement agencies in Texas — such as in Bexar County, Dallas and Houston — also either have or will be adding the cameras.

Police commanders initially didn’t ask for cameras in the early versions of the city budget, arguing it would be best to wait a year as the technology improves. But some City Council members pushed for their purchase.

“The people elected a council that made it a priority,” Acevedo said. “We share in that priority, and we think it is huge.”

Although the council approved funding for the cameras on Thursday, it did not meet Acevedo’s request for an additional 82 officers. The department instead was approved for 47.

Police officials are pushing a broad initiative designed to increase the amount of time officers spend working with the community by decreasing the need for officers to rush from call to call.

But the effort was met with skepticism by council members who sought more details about the plan and who saw solving property crimes as a bigger priority.